First Into Nagasaki

by George Weller

  Dec. 31

  Last day of 1941 and what a year. Enough happenings to make some people a lifetime. No Japs within alarming limits today. Rained and we had to take cover in adjacent dugout. Maybe safe while raining, but in sunshine looters are often snooping.

  Jan. 1

  Happy New Year everybody. Started out lucky for me for found check for $150 and 20¢ cash. Check was wet but will put it by to dry. [Scotty is very Scottish, though born at Bridgeville, California.] This swells our potential pot to more than $800. Went to dugout to escape rain and Fred heard Japs coming. They missed us by inches. Our closest call to date. Moving today to drier hideout.

  Jan. 2

  Fixed up dry shelter further away from camp. Spent day undisturbed there but once heard Japs looting camp. We will only be found by accident here if they search for us, but we now can tell there are probably three thousand on this little island and only about hundred acres of brush [for hiding]. When not busy the Japs often prowl through it to kill birds and look for new camps to loot—well, here’s hoping.

  Jan. 3

  Day passed quickly. We fixed one brush fence to keep Japs out of trails near camp. Ate salad and shrimp with mayonnaise. We have half gallon of this stuff left. Now getting sundown and moon will be right up. Going out at dusk to get some exercise.

  Jan. 4

  Found a real food cache last night. Got ten cans sausage and six chipped beef also twelve tuna and gal cranberries and one gal Bartlett pears. Good food ahead except crackers or bread. But will make cereals do. We do not dare light a fire; maybe later when it gets stormy. Cloudy tonight, will set paper [tarpaper roofing] to catch rainwater. Stayed quiet but heard looters frequently.

  Jan. 5

  Found 6 gals water. Fourteenth day since we became fugitives from monkey gang. We slept at Palace Hotel last night because of rain. Two Japs went by very near but not so close as before. Have blocked most of near trails with dead trees but they must have climbed over. I think they were lost. Would like to know what the U.S. is doing about getting back this place. Guess they know by now that we are at war. Christmas holidays are over and Congress must have about finished its bicarbonate of soda. The Japs here are working every minute to make it harder and cost more lives to take back Wake but our navy don’t seem to be showing up yet. We know they can’t let the Japs keep this place as it would be a base to bomb shipping and the Pacific must be kept open for supplies if we are to win this war. Seems we are not so ready as Knox says we are. We need a revision of our whole defense setup with some young brains. Weather is broken today into some sunshine and a little rain. Spring looking in on us. Quails are mating around us and little lizards hatching out. Birds are nesting and days getting noticeably longer. Jap trucks are very busy strengthening positions. All buildings are being mined no doubt and will be destroyed as soon as looks like the island would be retaken. Fred and I are sitting tight but days are getting awful long and flies are very bad. Am better but not well yet. Very weak and dizzy and do not have the right food, also very thin. Some days the stomach is fairly normal but next day not so good. I cannot get over seeing the other boys stripped to their shorts by Japs and wonder if they were put on boat or was it a brick wall for them. We will probably find out some day if we are not caught. If caught we will surely find out.

  Jan. 6

  Got up early and camouflaged camp. This is our first work at daybreak each AM. One scout and three bombers went out northeast at 6. Scout returned twice and bombers returned about 3–4 in afternoon. Four alarms from sirens seem to have the Jap boys on their toes. We hope Uncle Sam starts knocking at the door soon. Eleven-inch guns will be music to us.

  Jan. 7

  Up at 5:30 and more camou. Read a story in Reader’s Digest and started a novel. Went back to old camp and found it had been looted yesterday—another close call. We are still one move ahead of the Japs. Sat a long time on our front porch and finally to bed with lima beans for lunch and plums for dessert.

  Jan. 8

  Went to Chinese labor camp and brought in some cornflakes. Bomber #13 just passed over on way out . . . . a large four-motored job. #20 followed going south. Little scout plane left at 6:15. Third bomber now going out. Lunch was new potatoes, corn, sardines, seedless grapes (good).

  Jan. 9

  Slid out at 4:30 AM and lone wolfed for sugar and books while Fred camouflaged camp. Near visit from one Jap who at 11:30 came within thirty feet of camp. We are going to screen some getaway so that we can crawl off unseen if they climb in on us. All three bombers went out today as usual.

  Jan. 10

  Mary’s birthday . . . happy birthday, sister. Arose at 3:30 AM and went out for food—moon was light as day. Camouflaged at 5. At 11:30 a Jap knocked on the door. Thought we were finally caught. He looked right at us then turned and walked away. Must have had his eyes on something nearer to him. We moved into deeper brush and lay low the rest of the day thinking perhaps Jap had gone for help. Now about dark think we will move camp.

  Jan. 11

  35 days since war started. About 20 since island was captured. Japs came back raided us and we lost what few trinkets we had gathered. But we are still at large thanks to our lucky star. We have moved a half mile southeast along edge lagoon. By one o’clock four Japs have already passed near. There are just too many people on Wake for so small a spot. Probably 3,500 Japs or more. They are very nervous today. Think they expect U.S. soon. It’s about time, we think.

  Jan. 12

  Yesterday was a nightmare from noon on. Japs all afternoon almost stepping on us. Seems we picked a group of trees that reached to the lagoon’s edge. At high tide Japs could not get by on the lagoon side so they either went around us or crawled through. At least three were twenty feet from us in brush and five more passed nearby just outside. This is not good for our nerves—we moved back near the old camp.

  Jan. 13

  Slept at Waldorf Astoria.* Had good bed and overslept until it was too late for safe traveling. Am jittery and wish uncle would start knocking on the door with some eleven-inch guns. That will be sweet music to us and we will find a hole while it is going on.

  Jan. 14

  Well, we got by the 13th just by a hair and hope for better as we are getting jittery. We slept on coral. Wish we had some outside news and knew how our folks are and when uncle is coming to get us.

  Jan. 15

  It is now approaching midafternoon when looting is heaviest. We may get by with little or no alarm as the near camps have been pretty well combed over and hence Japs work farther away. But by the same token they creep into all likely trails looking for more loot. We have camouflaged trails to our camp as much as possible. We expect American help about Sunday if not before.

  Jan. 16

  We almost had callers—missed us by fifteen feet. They were probably lost while looting and trying to find road. They did it, but almost stepped on us doing it. Guess we will have to put up signs. Private property, keep out. Lots of noise today, trucks and tractors going all day. We were out two hours last night and got a little exercise. We really need it. Have been lying down so long we get dizzy when we stand up, and are very weak. Made another day by the grace of God and fifteen feet of brush. Something is sure taking care of us as we couldn’t be this lucky.

  Jan. 17

  Son’s birthday—25 years old. Well, it doesn’t matter much what happens to me. I have the comfort of knowing that my son will carry on and that our little mother will be provided for and this makes it easier to face the hazard of each succeeding day. We have been within the Valley of the Shadow now for 41 days and we have had a lot of close calls. But we are being as careful as we know how to be. If I don’t get back I will have had what few folks have had—25 years with two of the best scouts on earth. Nips were busy at big gun practice all day.

  Jan. 18

  Went out early and found a two by six tongue-and-groove to make body of a crossbow. Will hunt some nails for ammunition tonight. [Scotty made the bent part of
the bow from cocowood and eventually was able to kill rats at twenty yards.] Flies are terrible today—about twenty on my hands as I write.

  Jan. 19

  Japs are collecting all mattresses in camps around us. They were here today at 11:30 and got truckload. Now is zero hour. Japs moving all around us. Some talk English to each other. [Scotty later learned that the voices talking English belonged to parties of American prisoners whom the Japanese brought back under guard to reveal hidden supplies.]

  Jan. 20

  One alarm at 10:30 when three Japs walked past back of our camp. We could see them but they could not see us. Tractor working near us makes a lot of noise. I slept out at Mark Hopkins last night and Fred stayed in camp. I had the bridal suite but no blanket and no rat trap but I slept better—no snoring by Fred to listen to. Another alarm this afternoon but the trail drew them away.

  Jan. 21

  Up at 5:30 and looked for new home. More we looked the better we liked what we have. Morning passed without alarm except for some rocks thrown at birds by Japs. Only one plane took off this morning. I guess Japs have given up expecting Uncle Sam to try to take back Wake.

  Jan. 22

  We went out last night and looked after our water supply and found two gallons missing. We feel there may be some other Americans still on the island. Although we are not sure we keep close to our dugouts. Found four company contracts and am picking up all I can.

  Jan. 23

  Bad news last night Japs found two-thirds of all our food supply and took it away. Now we are crowded for thirty days supply food even if we cut down on eats. We caught no water last night as we had only one shower and it was too light. We are moving all our food to what we hope are safer places but these Japs are regular bloodhounds.

  Jan. 24

  We caught eleven gallons water last night, enough for three weeks. We also buried twenty cans of food that we brought in from another cache where the Japs are combing the brush harder. Today is 48 days since war started and 32 days we have been in brush dodging Japs. They should soon get tired.

  Jan. 25

  Two mild alarms this morning but they went by. Some news of home folks would be welcome but we don’t dwell too much on that because it gets us down. We do wonder why uncle doesn’t get going but guess he just wasn’t ready when this thing started. If he had seen as much of the navy as we have here on Wake he would know he wasn’t ready.

  Jan. 26

  Jap construction dragline moved up to our place at nine this morning and there has been heavy blasting at times so near that small rocks fell around us. These boys have a lot of efficiency and don’t seem to mess around. We would do well to send some of our boys to their school especially Knox who was telling the world he was ready months ago. Fifty days since war started and we are not ready yet.

  Jan. 27

  Blasting today. We got rocked at noon but not hit. We have looked for new hotel but can’t find one so well hid, so will stay here. Our jitters are better.

  Jan. 28

  Just at twelve we heard brush crack and looked up to see three Japs going by the trail just fifty feet from camp. Suddenly one turned back and then started in over the brush directly toward us. When he got within twenty feet we faded out the other way making as little noise as possible. We crawled on hands and knees for seven hundred feet and ran across a road and dived into brush on the other side. Went into camp and crawled into a place right under doormat and stayed all night and day without food and water then went back to see if could salvage anything and found camp intact. God is still looking after us but why I don’t know.

  Jan. 29

  Spent day in hideout #4: no light no food no flies no room no air but no Japs. Felt lucky we were alive. These Japs have done more actual work on this island in 37 days than the U.S. did in nine months, work that we should have been doing and we would not have lost Wake. Of course there was no war on when we started but everything for the service should be built first, not for beauty. Came home at 10 last night and found hideout #3 okay, our gift from God. Arrived on island three months ago—my $30 bonus will start Sunday.

  Jan. 30

  Fred discovered this morning that the last Jap who went after us had found his little bag of treasures and that is evidently why he stopped and did not find the camp as he was all excited about the bag. Planes patrolling all day and trucks busy. Gosh but we are glad to be in this home again after thinking we had lost it. I have been very weak of late and get so tired—no starch food and not enough exercise. Am losing weight but putting on whiskers. I begin to look like Christ.

  Jan. 31

  Feel better today but still weak and tired. Three planes overhead all afternoon. I am burying this book tonight and will start a new one, so as not to lose my record if anything slips.

  Feb. 1

  I went for a walk and ran into two Japs but they turned away in time. Hard rain came and Fred had uncovered our bed before he left and it got wet through. We feel the Japs may get out a detail to hunt us down soon. We will have to be on the watch for sentries at night on the trails. My $30 monthly bonus from the company begins today my fourth month on Wake.

  Feb. 2

  We are two groundhogs and today is groundhog day. Planes up at 6:30 seem to be expecting company I hope it’s uncle. Sun is shining so guess we will stay in our holes for six weeks more unless Japs smoke us out. There’s a cold northeast wind and we have nothing to wear except shirt, shorts and pants—no undershirts, sox or coats. It’s hard to keep warm. Planes have been lazy; not much doing in war business. Good-night, dear mother and son.

  Feb. 3

  Showers and cold, breakers rolling high. We took stock and can go about three weeks on food we have; then we must raid the main camp. However, if we get the right kind of windy dark night in the next week or two we will go in to ease our worries. It’s like pulling a tooth; we will get it over.

  Feb. 4

  Fred has a hunch help is coming soon—first time he has been optimistic about it. With planes up all morning half the day is licked, which is something to us as we are living from hour to hour now. Little lizards crawl over us catching flies. They are so tame now we have to brush them off while writing. Their heads and bodies are just 2 in. long and tails about 3 in., dark brown with three gold stripes from end to end of body. There are six on me as I write and I love them. One has a purple tail and one little fellow is speckled and has no stripes—I guess he’s just a private.

  Feb. 5

  According to my figures it should take Uncle Sam about sixty days to get organized, equipped and supplied to start steaming up the Pacific. So he should be on his way here any day now with plenty of planes, boats & subs to take care of the situation. One Jap plane is still out. We can only speculate as we are in the dark, on the underside of the war. We only know that for uncle to control the Pacific he has to occupy all the islands that can be used as bombing bases and that includes Wake. Yesterday I think would have been Grandpa Kay’s birthday—am hoping soon to hear some sweet music like 1000 lb. bombs dropping on our roof.

  Feb. 6

  Put a layer under our bed on the ground raising it up from dampness two inches which is too much altitude for safety. I guess we’ll get used to it as the new leaves are coming to help our camouflage. We now lie down all day and are really getting soft. You should see our hair and whiskers. Japs are putting in crops around us as though they intend to stay. Soon they may move out families and maybe even dogs. Then we will have real trouble.

  Feb. 7

  Time going past today more slowly than ever before. Birds are sitting in trees along our back trail and sun beating down very hot. We are getting soft we can hardly get around after lying flat so much.

  Feb. 8

  Now two months since war on Wake started and we are still okay but with our fingers crossed. Have not tasted bread for six weeks and won’t, I guess. I read most of the day. My eyes are okay. Lost my glasses with my bag when the Japs landed but found a good enough pair.
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  Feb. 9

  Fred and I wish nights were longer, they are so restful. When one has to be alert every minute of the day it is very fatiguing. Fred and I agree that we are more tired after a day of watching than after a day of hard work. Try lying flat just one day watching constantly for Japs with guns who are looking for you and probably will shoot you on sight.

  Feb. 10

  Went to old barracks to see if any food was still there. Found the place boarded up and it looks as though Japs are using it for a warehouse. Coming back I ran into a trap in the dark but luckily I was going very slowly and found it before making any alarm. We detoured and got no food. I’m getting corns on my seat from lying down so much. The Japs have a large garden right near us with a well but their water is too brackish to drink and so we will have to continue to catch ours from the rain. We have been going very light on food—about half what we should have. I feel very weak and tired but a few good events will cure that.